Shock absorbing device



March 2, 1948. E.'P. NEHER SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE Filed Dec .l

22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Eldon Paul Naher ATTURNE Y 'rch 2, 1948. E, P, NEHER .i i 2,437,206

- sxocx Assonms Davlc Filed bec. 22, 1945 s sheets-sheet z 50 l, l" ,l

v A INVENTOR.

Eldon `Iaul Neher ATTORNEY March 2, 1948. E". P. NEHR SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE Filed DeC. 22, v 1945- 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOK Eldon, Paul .Neher Peeeied Mee. 2, 194s u SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE ldon, Paul Neher, NorthManchester, Ind., as-

"signor to The General Tire t Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Appieeuen December 22, 1945, serial Ne. 636,547-

This invention relates to a. exible vibration damping connecting device for absorbing shocks and limiting the transmission of vibrations from one member to another.

The invention has ior an object to provide a simple and inexpensive connection that provides claims. (ol. 24a-35s) eil'ectlve cushioning of axial, radial, angular and torsional thrusts.

A further object is to provide a iiexible vibration damping connection employing elastic rubber cushioning elements so mounted that thrusts in any direction -are imposed in shear upon slome of the cushioning elements.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the connection as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying l drawings forming a part of this speciicatlonv in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a connection embodying the invention ,with portions broken away to show the internal construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the c-onnection shown in Fig. 1 with a portion broken away and shown in central vertical section; l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the thrus transmitting disc;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the disc;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of sup port with a portion broken away to show parts otherwise hidden;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line at 8-6 in Fig. 5; n

Fg? is a sectional elevation of a iiexible coupling, a part of which is shown in side elevation and a part in vertical section, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line indicated at 8-8 in Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. l to 4 of the drawings, the connection is shown between a supported member I and a supporting member 2 which may be a iioor or other horizontal support, The member I is supported upon the upper end of a vertical post 3 that has reduced threaded upper and lower ends 4 and 5. The post 3 has shoulders 6 and 'I at the inner ends of the reduced portions 4 and 5 which serve to position mounting cups 8 and 9 that have apertures in their bottoms to reindicated ceive the reduced portions 4 and 5 of the post.`

The cup members 8 and 9 are toward their open ends and are mounted on the post with their bottoms yin engagement adjacent the shouldersr 6 and 1. The mounting cups 8 and 9 are clamped in place by means of sleeves I0 and II which ilt upon the reduced portions 4 and 5 of the post and which are clamped against the bottoms of the cups by means of nuts I2 and I3 the nut I2 being interposed between the sleeve I0 and mem- 4 ber I with which vthe upper end of the reduced portion of the post may have threaded engagement.

The post 3 is surrounded by a tubular member that is formed of oppositely facing cup shaped sections I4 and I5, each provided with a. bulged body portion I6 and arranged with their bottoms engaging a central thrust transmitting disc II. The mounting cups 8 and 9 and the bulged portion I6 of the section of the tubular member form concavities to receive elastic rubber cushioning rings I8 and I9 that are preferably held under compression between the concavities formed by the cup members 8 and 9 attached to the post, and the bulged portions I6 of the sections I4 and I5 of the tubular member.

The disc I'I is mounted coaxially with the post 3 and projects outwardly beyond the periphery of the tubular member. The disc I'I which is preferably formed of sheet metal has uniformly and angularly spaced upwardly facing concavities 22 that alternate with downwardly facing concavities 23. Rubber' cushioning 4bands 20 Land 2| are provided on the sections I4 and I5 immediately above and below the disc I'I.

yThe thrust transmitting disc I1 is encircled by an annular connecting member that is composed of upper and lower sheet metal rings 24 and 25 that have dat peripheral portions `2li adapted to abut face to face, the inner portions of the rings being spaced apart to provide an interiorly opening channel to receive the peripheral portion of the disc I1. The sheet metal rings 24 and 25 may be secured together and to the support 2'by suitl able means such as lboltsl 21. The upper ring 24 has a transversely concave lower face 28 that registers with thel upwardly facing concavities 22 of the disc and the lower ring 25 has a transversely concave upper face 29 that registers with the downwardly facing concavities 23 of the disc.`

Rubber `clocks 3U are mounted between the disc I'I and the rings 24 and 25 andare seated in the registering concavities of the disc and rings. The' elastic rubber blocks 30 are preferably under axial compression between the disc II and the up' per and lower walls of the channel inthe outer connecting member, and'these blocks may be adhesively secured to the concavities with which they engage by means of a suitable rubber-tometal adhesive, as indicated at 3I in Fig. 2.

Axial thrusts imposed upon the post 3 are taken in shear by the rubber cushioning members I8 and I9 and radial and torsional thrusts are taken in shear by the elastic rubber cushioning blocks 30 interposed between the thrust transmitting disc I1 and the annular connecting member attached to the member 2. The rubber bands 20 and 2| are engageable with the inner edges of the rings 24 and 25 upon excessive lateral movements of the support and act as snubbers. Tilting movements of the post 3 with respect to the member 2` are yieldably resisted by all of the cushioning elements.

A uidtight chamber is formed within the tubular member composed of the sections I4 and I between the cushioning rings I8 and I9 and this chamber is preferably filled with liquid. The end portions of the sections I4 and I5 which engage the disc I1 form a restricted annular passage around the post 3 which retards the axial flow of liquid to damp vibrations.

In Figs. 5 and 6 0f the drawings u modified form of connection is shown in which a supported member 32 is flexibly connected to a supporting member 33. A supporting post 34 has a reduced threaded lower end 35 that extends downwardly through a hole 36 in the supporting member 33, the post being provided with a shoulder 31 at the upper end of the reduced portion 35 that rests upon the member 33 around the opening 36. A nut 38 clamps the post 34 to the support 33. The post 34 has a reduced upper end 39 that receives a thrust transmitting disc 4U that is concentric with the post, the disc being secured to the pest by a riveted head 4I "loi-mcd at the upper end of the reduced portion 39. The disk 40 has upwardly facing concavities 44 that alternate with downwardly facing concavities 45.

A sheet metal disc 46 overlies the disc 40 and is attached to the supported member 32 by means of a bolt 41 coaxial with the post 34. The disc 46 has concavities 48 on the under side thereof that register with concavities 44 of the disc and at its periphery the disc 43 has a continuous de pending ange 49. A ring plate 50 underlies the peripheral portion of the disc 40 and has an'upright peripheral flange 5I that is,secured to the flange 49 of the disc 46 by means of a standing seam 52 that extends around the circumference of the disc and plate. The plate 50 has upwardly facing concavities 53 adapted to register with the downwardly facing concavities 45 of the disc 4U. The disc 46 and plate 5I) are formed of sheet metal and provide an annular connecting member that encircles the disc 49 and that has an inwai-diy facing channel to receive the disc.

Elastic rubber blocks 54 are interposed between the disc 40 and the opposite side walls of the channel formed by the disc 48 and annular plate 50. Seated against the bottom of the channel and surrounding the periphery of the disc 40 there is an elastic rubber bumper ring 56 that is engaged by the transversely flat peripheral flange 49 of the disc 46 upon excessive lateral movements of the disc. The elasticblocks 54 seated in the oppositely facing concavities oi the disc and channel take radial and torsional thrusts in shear and the pumper 55 serves to limit the amplitude of vibrations of one of the connecting members relative to the other.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings a exible cou pling is shown which employs connecting members substantially identical with the connecting members shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Corresponding parts are therefore designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 5 and 6, with the exponent a added. In the case of the flexible coupling two axially alined shafts 6U and 6I have collars 62 and E3 keyed thereto. A thrust trans mitting disc 40a corresponding to the thrust transmitting disc 49 above described is fixed to the collar 63, and an' annular channel form connecting member is attached to the collar 62, the channel form connecting member comprising a disc 46a and an annular plate 50a correspond ing to the disc 4B and plate 50 shown in Figs. 5 and 6.- Elastic rubber blocks 54a are interposed between the thrust transmitting disc 40a. and the opposite walls of the channel member in the same manner as the blocks 54a above described. An annular bumper 56a may be mounted in the channel to surround the periphery of the disc in the same manner as the modification previously described, to limit the amplitude of lateral vibrations and a rubber band G4 may be mounted on the collar G3 alongside the disc 40a to provide an additional bumper between the annular plate a and the collar B3.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A flexible vibration damping connection comprising an inner connecting member including a disc, an outer annular connecting member encircling the disc and having an interiorly facing channel receiving the disc, and a. series of circumferentially spaced cushioning blocks interposed between the disc and the Walls of said channel, said blocks being disposed alternately between the disc and opposite side walls of the channel.

2. A flexible vibration damping connection comprising an inner connecting member including a disc having angularly spaced concavities in opposite faces thereof adjacent its periphery, the concavities of one face being interposed between concavities of the other, an outer annular connecting member encircling he disc and having an interiorly facing channel in which the peripheral portion of the disc is received, the walls of said channel having concavities adapted to register with concavities of the disc, and blocks of elastic rubber interposed between said disc and the walls of said channel and seated in the registering concavities of the disc and channel.

3. A flexible vibration damping connection comprising an inner connecting member including a disc, an outer annular connecting member encircling' the disc and having a interiorly facing channel receiving the disc, elastic rubber cushioning members interposed between said disc and opposite side walls of the channel, and an elastic rubber bumper in the bottom of said channel overlying the periphery of said disc.

4. A flexible vibration damping connection comprising an inner connecting member including a disc having equiangularly spaced concavities on each of its faces, all of said concavities being equidistant from the axis of the disc and each concavity being located between oppositely facing concavities, an outer annular connecting member encircling the disc and having an interiorly facing channel to receive the peripheral 5. A flexible vibration damping support com- Y' prising a central post, a tubular member surroun ing the post, two axially spaced rubber 10 cushioning annuli interposed between the v.post and tubular member, a. disc attached to the tubular member intermediate said annuli, an annular'v supporting member encircling said disc and having an inwardly facing channel to receive said -16 disc, and angularly spaced cushioning blocks interposed between opposite sides of said disc and the Walls of said channel, the blocks on one side of said disc being positioned between blocks on v the oppositeside thereof. 6

ELDON PAUL NEI-IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y V Name," i Date 2,179,959 SChIOedter NOV. 14, 1939 2,387,065 Harding --.1., Oct. 16, 1945 2,417,096 'rniry Mai-.11, 1947 

